Catholic school ‘SciGirl’

Women have long been underrepresented in science-related careers. But a new PBS show, “SciGirls,” is on a mission to change how tween girls think about STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — and hopefully inspire them to pursue careers in these fields.

Each 30-minute episode of the show, which has a companion Web site, features two animated characters — Izzie and her best friend Jake — who confront problems only science can solve. They get help from real “SciGirls” who, as the show’s promotional site notes, “put STEM to work and save the day.”

Peri and her friends, Allie Wilkie and Mackenzie Jones, asked students to sort trash and compost during lunch periods. The girls then took the sorting one step further, learning about the different types of plastics and what the numbers on each container mean. Then, they initiated their own recycling project.

Caring for God’s creation is an important part of Catholic social teaching. We need more youth like Peri and her friends who are interested in science and conservation and more shows like “SciGirls” that encourage students to make a positive impact on their world.